Pick 3 play for Churchill Downs on Sep. 2

An interesting three-race sequence will take place at Churchill Downs on Wednesday beginning in Race 6. Here is my analysis of an affordable Pick 3 play:

Race 6 – Maiden Special Weight

Juveniles will run a mile on the grass to kick the wager off. An overflow field of 15 is entered, and I have to spread a bit in a race that lacks a lot of clarity. Four first-time starters will be on my ticket, which includes a pair from the also-eligibles list.

#1 Laker Mamba (8-1), #7 Bryce Canyon (10-1), #11 Sir Roberto (12-1), and #14 Light Us Up (8-1), are the ones I'll commence the ticket with.

Race 7 – Allowance optional claiming

Fillies and mares will race 6 furlongs in an optional claiming affair. I was tempted to single #2 A Thousand Reasons (3-1) as a lone speed play, but she faces some talented ladies in the heat, so I will include two others as well.

The Larry Jones entry of #1 Lady of Luxury (7-2) and #1A Perfect Happiness (7-2) is a logical inclusion, as is Ben Colebrook’s late-running #4 Club Car (5-2).

Race 8 – Allowance optional claiming

A dozen boys will travel a mile on the dirt in this $80,000 optional claiming test. #4 Looking at Bikinis (6-5) will be formidable in his 4-year-old debut for conditioner Chad Brown. Lookin At Lucky colt has a lot of ability and was last seen finishing a solid fourth in the deep Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct. Bay is training quite well since the absence, led by a sharp half-mile spin on the Oklahoma surface at Saratoga most recently.

If the favorite falters, I am expecting a big turnaround from Rusty Arnold’s #6 Troubling Moon (12-1). Into Mischief gelding has run some big ones on the oval, and I am willing to draw a line through his poor showing at Keeneland in July. Lightly-raced 5-year-old presents great value under Brian Hernandez.

Wager

• $1 Pick 3: 1,7,11,14 with 1,2,4 with 4,6 ($24)